The 7th police precinct is located at 159 N. 10th St. and sits adjacent to the Newark Schools Stadium.

---

NEWARK, NJ - The city's North Ward and parts of the West Ward will get the police's undivided attention with the addition of a new precinct that was unveiled today by city officials.

The new 7th precinct will cover the Roseville section of Newark between Branch Brook Park and the East Orange, Bloomfield and Belleville borders. The facility is the second for the North Ward, which was formerly served by the 2nd precinct alone.

“It is an opportunity to kind of consolidate what we're doing, make the geographic area smaller to provide more services and opportunity for the folks in this area,” said Mayor Ras Baraka at the new precinct's grand opening.

Immigrants Memorial Monument at Peter Francisco Park on Ferry Street in Newark on May 05, 2018.

---

As councilman for Newark's East Ward for the last 20 years, I've been proud to witness our city's economic and cultural resurgence. As a native of Portugal, I'm also proud of the role immigrants from all over the world have played in Newark's prosperity. Immigrants in our Congressional district, contribute almost $2 billion in taxes and wield nearly $5 billion in spending power, according to the bipartisan nonprofit, New American Economy. We are also 63 percent more likely to be entrepreneurs than native-born Americans, which means we're not just providing vital services to the entire community but creating jobs for our American neighbors.

The proposed policy would make any immigrant who uses more than 15 percent of the poverty line in public benefits for themselves or their non-American children a "public charge"-- and bar them from permanent residency. Of course, we want people to be self-sufficient. But by this standard, according to the conservative-leaning Cato Institute, an immigrant who uses just $2.50 in benefits a day -- i.e. is 95 percent financially independent -- would be considered a "public charge."

Once under fire for its failed state inspections and reports of gruesome conditions, Newark's independently-run animal shelter announced on Wednesday it will no longer accept animals from the city or its residents beginning Nov. 8.

John Bergmann, acting executive director of Associated Humane Societies, said the city has not paid its bills since July and the shelter could no longer afford to continue their services.

"By not paying what is due, the city of Newark is acting contrary to the interests of its own citizens and animals," he said in a statement. "It's not right that the city expects to get our services for free."

Murphy in May pleaded guilty to embezzling about $223,000 in campaign funds with forged checks. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison last week for the scheme, which lasted from 2014 to 2017.

Human errors and systemic failures at Public Service Electric & Gas were blamed for delays in restoring service to a home where a 68-year-old woman on hospice care died hours after the utility shut off power, an investigation by a law firm found.

The death of Linda Daniels, a Newark resident who relied on an electric-powered oxygen supply in the middle of a heat wave in July, has triggered numerous investigations by the state, PSE&G, and legislators regarding utility shutoffs.

PSE&G cut off power to the Shephard Avenue home in Newark on the morning of July 5 because the bill was substantially in arrears. Almost immediately family members contacted the utility, pleading for it to restore service.

Newark City Council is considering increasing fees for handicap-accessible parking spaces.

---

NEWARK, NJ - City Council deferredchangesto an ordinance that would have increased fees for reserved handicap-accessible parking spaces from $50 to $250, causing concern among some disability advocates.

The increaseswould haveoffset the costs of a physician employed by the city who would examine applicants for the parking spaces. Under the proposal, renewal fees would also have increased from $25 to $100.

Robert Gregory has been named the new superintendent of Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark.

---

NEWARK, NJ - The prior interim superintendent of Newark Public Schools was selected yesterday as the chief incoming administrator to lead Marion P. Thomas Charter School (MPTCS).

A. Robert Gregory was unanimously approved by MPTCS' Board of Trustees yesterday to take the helm as superintendent, effective Nov. 5. He formerly served as interim superintendent of Newark Public Schools immediately after it regained local control last year from the state.

“We were impressed with Mr. Gregory’s background, commitment and compassion for the children of Newark,” Marion P. Thomas Charter School Board Chairperson Greg Collins said in a statement. “But when we met him we were instantly overwhelmed by his energy, enthusiasm and internal drive for excellence. I welcome him to MPTCS with excitement and optimism about the future of our village.”

Ron Rice, Jr. was a councilman under Cory Booker’s administration and now lives in the Washington D.C. area where he advocates for charter schools.

---

NEWARK, NJ - The first thing people usually ask when looking to move to a new neighborhood?

How are the schools?

In the case of Newark, building up the school system may be one way to attract newcomers to the city while also providing for long-time residents. The best way to do that starts with choice, according to a city councilman-turned-charter-school-advocate.

Landlords in Newark are required by municipal ordinance to keep homes at 68 degrees between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. from Oct. 1 to May 1.

---

NEWARK, NJ - Residents who live in apartments without heat or hot running water can reach out to the city for help, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka reminded tenants.

Landlords in Newark are required by municipal ordinance to keep homes at 68 degrees between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. from Oct. 1 to May 1. Between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the temperature must be maintained at 65 degrees.

Landlords who don’t meet the minimum temperature requirements could face legal action in municipal court. Fines could exceed $1,000 per day until the heat is fully restored.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Oct. 12 told reporters that the East Ward was not impacted by the city's ineffective corrosion control method.

---

NEWARK, NJ - An environmental group that is suing Newark officials over elevated levels of lead in the city’s drinking water is alleging that statements made by the mayor at a Friday press conference about the issue were "misleading."

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) alleges there are numerous homes in the East Ward with elevated levels of lead, contrary to what Mayor Ras Baraka on Oct. 12 told reporters.

The mayor’s statements came during apress conference announcing that lead filterswould be distributed to certain homes after a preliminary study found that the chemical used to prevent lead from dissolving into pipes was no longer effective. The process is known as corrosion control.